Sitz bath



seP- 9, 1958 c. c. WHITE 2,850,743

v SITZ BATH Filed March 7. 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WCW/25%.

Sept- 9, 1958 c. c. WHITE 2,850,743

SITZ BATH Filed March 7, 1.957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NvEIoR.

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UnitedStates Patent O SITZ BATH Carroll C. White, Battle Creek, Mich.

Application March 7, 1957, Serial No. 644,624

2 Claims. (Cl. 4185) This invention relates to a portable sitz bath, more particularly for use in hospitals or sick rooms wherein it is desirable to transfer a patient from bed to the sitz bath with a minimum of inconvenience to the patient, and has for its object to provide `such a bath with a normally horizontal platform, which may be adjusted to the height of the bed so that the patient may be readily transferred thereto, with provision for gently lowering one end of the platform to an inclined position immersed in the bath in such manner that the patient will be comfortably supported with the hips immersed and the calves of the legs extended over the front edge of the bath where a suitably adjustable support may be provided to properly rest the lower portions of the legs so projecting,

More particularly, the said invention aims to support the said platform in such manner that, after the patient has been placed thereon, the said platform may be drawn rearwardly over the rear edge of the tub, which rear edge is adapted to operate as a fulcrum on which the said platform may be rocked to a partially immersed slanting position in the tub; these movements preferably being effected through the agency Iof mechanical adjusting means.

Still further, it is contemplated that an inclined guide or track be provided in, or forming, the forward portion of the tub proper to direct the downward and upward movement of the forward end `of the platform as the said platform is drawn rearwardly over the rear edge portion of the tub.

Still further, it is proposed for the raising and lowering of the platform in its horizontal position to the substantial level of a bed from which a patient is to be transferred and preferably to effect this by mechanical means arranged to raise and lower the tub itself.

Still further objects or advantages additional or subsidiary to the aforesaid objects, Ior resulting from the construction or operation of the invention as it may be carried into effect, will become apparent as the said invention is hereinafter further disclosed.

In carrying the said invention into effect, I may adopt the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described, by way of example, having reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved sitz bath shown in relation to the bed of the patient;

Figure 2 is a side elevation 'of the device;

Figure 3 is a vertical longitudinal section of the same showing the platform in its slanted position of use;

Figure 4 is a horizontal section of the same taken on a plane indicated by the line 4-4 in Figure 3; and

Figure 5 is a detail view of one lof the adjustable bath supports taken on a plane indicated by line 5-5 in Figure 4.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar parts of the several figures of the drawing.

The outer bath structure is shown as being, in this case, of a rectangular construction provided with corner leg members 11 and is characterized by sloping guide on track extending downwardly and rearwardly within the structure from the forward edge thereof, and, although the actual construction of this tub proper may be of any form within the structure which may be found convenient and desirable, I prefer to make the said track 12 in the form of an inclined plate extending between the side walls of the youter, structure and thus forming part Vof the bottom of the tub and merging into a second oppositely inclined plate 13 extending upwardly to the rear edge of this structure, as clearly shown in Figures l, 2 and 3; whereby 'a tub of a V type, as viewed from the side of the device, is provided.

For controlling of temperature of water in this tub, I have shown electric heater 14 coupled to a thermostat 15, which may be regulated by a control 16, suitably accessible on the outside of the structure.

17 indicates a platform or body rest which may, in its raised position, be substantially level with the top of the structure 10, as indicated in Figures 1 and 2, and can be lowered to an inclined position within the tub (as shown in Figure 3), as by means which will be further described.

In order that this platform, in its raised position, may

be adjusted to the general level of the bed of a patient so that he may be easily moved from the bed on to the platform, I provide for the vertical adjustment of the device to meet such a requirement. To facilitate such adjustment, I show a crank 18 to operate a gear 19, which is coupled by a chain 20 to a gear 21 mounted on a transverse shaft 22 Within 4the structure. This shaft 22 is geared at 23 to longitudinal shafts 24 which, in turn, have their extremities geared to nuts 25 suitably mounted on threaded posts 26, each of which is provided with a castor 27. Thus, by rotation of the crank 18 in one or other direction, the structure may be raised or lowered on the said posts 26 to determine the level of the platform 17.

The said platform 17 is provided at its forward end with a roller 28 positioned to travel upwardly and downwardly over the inclined track 12, and a further roller 29 is shown as being situated at the upper edge of the wall 12, so that the said platen may be freely moved over this roller in a manner which will be quite apparent from an examination in Figure 3; 30 being a crank for operating an adjusting screw 31 which is carried by the rear portion of the said platform 1,7 and is threaded into a member 32 carried by the structure 10; whereby the rotation of this crank 3h in one or other direction will cause the rearward movement of the said platform over the rear edge of the tub and permit the downward descent of the forward end of the platform along the guide or track 12, in which position the body of a person resting thereon will have the hips immersed in the bath proper. Obviously the opposite rotation of the crank 30 will effect forward movement and consequent raising of the platform. It will be apparent that the member 32 is capable of some rotation relative to the frame structure in order that the screw 31 may swing vertically to accommodate the tilting movement of the platform.

A forward leg rest 33 is shown as being hinged to the upper front end of the structure and adjustable from a horizontal to an inclined position, through the agency of a rack brace 34 in a manner which will be obvious.

A plug 35 is indicated to facilitate drainage of the device.

What I claim is:

l. In the portable sitz bath, a tubV having spaced forward and rear edges, a patient support platform normally resting in a horizontal position over said edges, said platform being slidable rearwardly of said tub with said rear edge as a fulcrum whereby said platform may be tilted about said rear edge during such movement to an extent of less than 90 to provide an inclined back rest within the tub, inclined track means in the forward end of said tub to guide the forward edge of said platform downwardly and rearwardly during such tilting movement to an inclined position and during its return movement to a horizontal position, andl adjustably operable platform-sliding means for moving said platform backwards and forwards over the rear end of said tub whereby the forward end of said platform may accordingly descend or ascend said track means to lower and raise a patient into and from said tub.

2. A sitz bath according to claim 1, wherein the forward end wall of said tub is inclined and forms the track means for the guidance of the forward edge of said platform.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 987,646 Schmidt Mar. 21, 1911 1,263,611 Scroggin Apr. 23, 1918 2,172,941 Manning et al. Sept. l2, 1939 2,560,997 Thompson July 17, 1951 2,566,495 Miyakawa Sept. 4, 1951 2,624,053 Beckwith Jan. 6, 1953 

